Cleaning composition

ABSTRACT

A liquid, non-aqueous cleaner composition that is well suited for removing finger nail polish, the composition comprising d-limonene, N-methyl pyrrolidone, dibasic ester, and cetyl acetate.

This application is related to copending application Ser. No. 07/851,738filed Mar. 16, 1992.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a coating removal and all-purposecleaning composition and, more particularly, to a fingernail polishremover and artificial fingernail tip remover composition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional nail polish remover compositions, nail brush cleaner, hardsurface cleaner, and spray gun equipment cleaner, paint, glue, urethane,etc. generally include acetone, ethyl acetate and alcohol. The use ofacetone, ethyl acetate and alcohol is disadvantageous in that it givesoff a disagreeable odor, is irritating to the eyes and skin, and isdrying to the nails and cuticles. Acetone, ethyl acetate and alcohol areflammable and combustible and can be harmful to the user.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an easy-to-make,easy-to-use very efficient nail polish remover composition or anartificial nail remover composition and methods of using thecompositions.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a veryeffective, non-toxic, non-methylene chloride, acetone, ethyl acetate oralcohol containing nail polish remover comprising d-limonene, N-methyl-2pyrrolidone and cetyl acetate, and dibasic esters such as dimethyladipate and products sold by dupont including dibasic ester DBE, dibasicester DBE2 or dibasic ester DBE5.

Still another object of the present invention to provide a non-aqueousliquid cleaning composition especially adapted for removing finger nailpolish, the composition comprising the following ingredients inapproximate percent by weight:

    ______________________________________                                        Ingredients        % by weight                                                ______________________________________                                        1.      d-limonene     5-75                                                   2.      N-methyl pyrrolidone                                                                         5-95                                                   3.      cetyl acetate  1-15                                                   4.      dibasic ester (DBE)                                                                          5-95                                                           (dialkyl esters of                                                            aliphatic dicarboxylic                                                        acids)                                                                ______________________________________                                    

These and other objects will be apparent from the specification andclaims that follow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a non-aqueous composition comprising thefollowing ingredients:

1. d-limonene;

2. N-methyl-2 pyrrolidone;

3. cetyl acetate; and

4. dibasic ester DEB, (including dialkyl esters of dicarboxylicaliphatic acids having 4 to 12 carbon atoms such as dibasic ester DBE2,dibasic ester DBE5).

The present invention also provides an effective, non-toxic, non-aqueousliquid finger nail cleaner, spray gun cleaner, hard surface cleaner,nail brush cleaner, etc. composition comprising the followingingredients in the general and preferred ranges set forth in approximatepercent by weight:

    ______________________________________                                                          % by weight                                                 Ingredients       General    Preferred                                        ______________________________________                                        1.    d-limonene      5-75       40-70                                        2.    N-methyl pyrrolidone                                                                          5-95       25-45                                        3.    cetyl acetate   1-15        3-10                                        4.    dibasic ester   5-95       15-45                                        ______________________________________                                    

DETAILS OF THE INVENTION

Preferred compositions are set forth in the formulations that follow:

    ______________________________________                                        Formulation 1   d'limonene      50%                                                           NMP             20%                                                           dibasic ester   25%                                                           cetyl acetate   5%                                            Formulation 2   dibasic ester   75%                                                           NMP             20%                                                           cetyl acetate   5%                                            Formulation 3   d'limonene    37.5%                                                           dibasic ester 37.5%                                                           NMP             20%                                                           cetyl acetate   5%                                            ______________________________________                                    

The compositions of the present invention, while preferably used as anail polish remover, can be used for an artificial nail tip remover, onsilk, linen, and fiberglass wraps. The compositions are useful asall-purpose cleaners and, in particular, hard surface cleaners, blanketwashes for us in the printing industry, cleaners for brake linings, silkscreens, copier belts, all kinds of metering devices including coincollecting machines, and the cleaning of all types of spraying equipmentwhen used for painting, applying glues, inks, greases, oils, paintstripper, removing urethane, removing glues, hard surface cleaner.

The easy to use, easy to make cleaning composition is made by mixing thefour liquid ingredients (d-limonene, N-methyl pyrrolidone, cetyl acetateand dibasic ester) to form a homogenized stable cleaning mixture havingenhanced detergent and stripping powers. To further clarify the use ofdibasic ester DBE or dibasic ester DBE2 or dibasic ester DBE5, it shouldbe recognized these three components can be either blended together orincorporated separately with the same weight proportions as the basicformulation. It should also be recognized that d'limonene can be blendedwith either of the three--dibasic ester DBE, dibasic ester DBE2 ordibasic ester DBE5. They can be in the following ratios of d-limonene todibasic ester:

50/50

40/60

60/40

30/70

70/30

80/20

20/80

When generally about one-half to 15% by weight and preferably 8 to 12%by weight of the d-limonene is replaced by dibasic ester, the speed ofthe cleaning action increases. This combination is necessary for theremoval of some of the new hard finishes of certain nail polishes,especially when the polishes are on wrapped nails. The d-limonenecomponent is a solvent or diluent that assists in penetrating andstripping or removing of the coating (such as finger nail polish) to beremoved.

The d-limonene helps to loosen or dissolve grease, fat or organicmaterials, and is described as an ingredient in a cleaner in U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,790,951 and 5,031,648.

The N-methyl pyrrolidone and dibasic ester are solvents that arecompatible with d-limonene and cetyl acetate and the ingredient,preferably N-methyl 2-pyrrolidone (NMP), is listed as a component incompositions in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,120,810 and 4,732,695. U.S. Pat. No.4,605,670 discloses a percutaneous (drug) absorption compositionincluding NMP and other ingredients such as alcohols or esters includingcetyl acetate. U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,621 is directed to a paint strippercomposition and discloses the use of NMP, an oil, and a plurality ofcosolvents including terpenes.

The cetyl acetate is a desensitizer that enhances the compatibility,efficiency, miscibility, and stability of the liquid non-aqueousd-limonene/NMP combination. As indicated, cetyl acetate should be atleast about 1/2 percent by weight of the composition with the bestresults being obtained with about 4 to 6 percent by weight. In somecases, a small amount of the cetyl acetate, say about 1/2 to 30 weightpercent and preferably about 5 to 10% can be replaced by acetylatedlanolin alcohol.

The dibasic ester is a dialkyl ester of an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid,the alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms and the aliphatic portion ofthe acid having generally 3 or 4 carbon atoms up to as many as 10 or 12carbon atoms. Suitable dibasic esters are dimethoxy adipate, dipropoxyadipate, diethoxy adipate, dibutoxy adipate as well as correspondingdialkyl esters of succinic acid and glutaric acid. Other suitabledialkyl esters have the acid portion derived from oxalic, malonic,primalic and azelaic acids. The dibasic esters are described in dupontU.S. Pat. Nos. 4,467,800, 5,096,501 and 5,002,078, incorporated hereinby reference.

As indicated, preferably small amounts (15 to 30% by weight) of dibasicester can be used as well as small amounts, about 10 to 30% by weight,of an anti-fungicidal agent, ethyl or methyl lactate, myristalkoniumchloride and Quaterniun 14 (quaternary ammonium salt derivative) toenhance the cleaner composition and make it more acceptable to thehands. Dibasic ester DBE, a preferred solvent, is a solvent that iscompatible with d-limonene, cetyl acetate, and N-methyl pyrrolidone.Dibasic ester DBE or ethyl lactate enhances the compatibility,efficiency, miscibility, and the stability of the liquid, non-aqueousd'limonene/NMP combination and enhances the removal time for the moredifficult hard nail polish surfaces. Best results are obtained withabout 20% to 30% by weight of dibasic ester and/or ethyl lactate andreducing d-limonene by 20 to 30% by weight. As indicated, the totalamount of d-limonene in the composition is preferably at least 45percent by weight and more preferably at least about 50 or 55 percent byweight. In some cases, when dibasic ester DBE is used, methyl lactatecan be used with the ethyl lactate, the methyl lactate being generallyabout 3 to 5 weight percent up to 50 to 55 weight percent of thecombination of ethyl lactate and methyl lactate.

The cleaner composition has an outstanding balance of propertiesincluding easy removal of coatings (finger nail polish) on hardsurfaces, being non-irritating, having a pleasant odor, being quickdrying, having miscible ingredients, and leaving the cleaned surfacesfree of surface fiber.

The composition can be used as an activator for a finger nail coating,it activating an acrylic compound by mixing with an acrylic powder. Thedry powder and liquid composition creates a round ball of material thatis brushed on the fingernail. When hardened (by drying with a dryer, forinstance) nail polish is applied over the hardened acrylicpowder/composition coating.

The present invention provides the following compositions:

    ______________________________________                                        Ingredients        % by weight                                                ______________________________________                                        1.     d-limonene      55-65                                                  2.     N-methyl pyrrolidone                                                                          30-40                                                  3.     cetyl acetate   4-6                                                    4.     dialkyl (C.sub.1 to C.sub.5) ester                                                            10-30                                                         of an aliphatic (C.sub.3 to                                                   C.sub.12) acid                                                         B                                                                             1.     d-limonene      40                                                     2.     N-methyl pyrrolidone                                                                          35                                                     3.     cetyl acetate    5                                                     4.     dialkyl (C.sub.1 to C.sub.5) ester                                                            20                                                            of an aliphatic (C.sub.3 to                                                                   20                                                            C.sub.12) acid                                                         ______________________________________                                    

Also provided is a composition comprising about 50% by weight ofd-limonene, about 25% by weight of N-methyl pyrrolidone, about 5% byweight of cetyl acetate and acetylated lanolin alcohol, and about 20% byweight of dialkyl (c₁ to C₅) ester of an aliphatic (C₃ to C₁₂) acid.

What is claimed is:
 1. A non-aqueous cleaning composition consistingessentially of the following ingredients in approximate percent byweight:

    ______________________________________                                        Ingredients        % by weight                                                ______________________________________                                       
 1.      d-limonene     40-70                                                 
 2.      N-methyl pyrrolidone                                                                         25-45                                                 
 3.      cetyl acetate   3-10                                                 
 4.      dialkyl (C.sub.1 to C.sub.5) ester                                                            5-40                                                          of an aliphatic (C.sub.3 to                                                   C.sub.12) acid                                                        ______________________________________                                    


2. A composition as defined in claim 1 in which the following ingredientare present in approximate percent by weight:

    ______________________________________                                        Ingredients        % by weight                                                ______________________________________                                       
 1.     d-limonene      55-65                                                 
 2.     N-methyl pyrrolidone                                                                          30-40                                                 
 3.     cetyl acetate   4-6                                                   
 4.     dialkyl (C.sub.1 to C.sub.5) ester                                                            10-30                                                         of an aliphatic (C.sub.3 to                                                   C.sub.12) acid                                                         ______________________________________                                    


3. A composition as defined in claim 1 consisting essentially of about40 weight percent d-limonene, 35 weight percent N-methyl pyrrolidone, 5weight percent cetyl acetate and 20 weight percent dialkyl (C₁ to C₅)ester of an aliphatic (C₃ to C₁₂) acid.
 4. A composition as defined inclaim 1 in which 0.5 to 10 weight percent of the d-limonene issubstituted for by an equal weight percent of ethyl lactate.
 5. Acomposition as defined in claim 1 in which the d-limonene is the majorcomponent in the composition.
 6. A composition as defined in claim 1 inwhich 0.5 to 10 weight percent of the d-limonene is substituted for byan equal weight percent of a mixture of ethyl lactate and methyl lactatewherein said mixture consists of about 3 to 55 weight percent methyllactate, the balance of said mixture being ethyl lactate.
 7. Anon-aqueous liquid composition consisting essentially of about 50% byweight of d-limonene, about 20% to 25% by weight of N-methylpyrrolidone, about 20% to 25% by weight of a dialkyl (C₁ to C₅) ester ofan aliphatic (C₃ to C₁₂) acid, and about 5% by weight of cetyl acetate.8. A non-aqueous cleaning composition consisting of about 5-75% byweight of d-limonene, about 5 to 95% by weight ofN-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, about 5-95% by weight of a dialkyl (C₁ to C₅)ester of an aliphatic (C₃ to C₁₂) acid, and about 1 to 15% by weight ofa mixture of cetyl acetate and acetylated lanolin alcohol wherein saidmixture consists of from about 0.5 to 30% by weight of acetylatedlanolin alcohol, the balance of said mixture being cetyl acetate.
 9. Anon-aqueous cleaning composition consisting of about 5 to 75% by weightof d-limonene, about 5 to 95% by weight of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, about5 to 95% by weight of a dialkyl (C₁ to C₅) ester of an aliphatic (C₃ toC₁₂) acid, and about 3 to 10% by weight of cetyl acetate or a mixture ofcetyl acetate and acetylated lanolin alcohol wherein said mixtureconsists of from about 0.5 to 30% by weight of acetylated lanolinalcohol, the balance of said mixture being cetyl acetate.
 10. Anon-aqueous cleaning composition consisting of the following ingredientsin approximate percent by weight:

    ______________________________________                                        Ingredient         % by weight                                                ______________________________________                                        d-limonene         40-70                                                      N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone                                                                           25-45                                                      a dialkyl (C.sub.1 to C.sub.5)                                                                   15-45                                                      ester of an aliphatic                                                         (C.sub.3 to C.sub.12) acid                                                    mixture of cetyl acetate and                                                                      3-10                                                      acetylated lanolin alcohol                                                    ______________________________________                                    

wherein said mixture consists of from about 0.5 to 30% by weight ofacetylated lanolin alcohol, the balance of said mixture being cetylacetate.
 11. A non-aqueous liquid composition consisting essentially ofabout 37.5% by weight of d-limonene, about 20% by weight of N-methylpyrrolidone, about 37.5% by weight of a dialkyl (C₁ to C₅) ester of analiphatic (C₃ to C₁₂) acid, and about 5% by weight of cetyl acetate. 12.A method of removing a coating from a fingernail comprising:a) applyingthe cleaning composition defined in claim 1 to the coating on the nail;b) allowing the coated nail and composition to remain in contact for atime sufficient to loosen the coating from the nail, and c) separatingthe coating and the composition from the nail.